Fire extinguisher



Nov. 6, 1934. H. B. GRAHAM ET AL FIRE EXTINGUISHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 29,. 1933 W 6. MM

ATTORNEYS 5 m a a m m w z w K v v \K 0| 3 w 34 m W F 9 5 3 v \n\ l l hhi IH llTl l I l h m m 2 3% m a F Nov. 6, 1934.

H. B. GRAHA FIRE EXTINGUISHER M ET AL 1,980,051

IN VEN TOR 5 Qfwm T TORNE Y3 Patented Nov. 6 1934 UNITED STATES FIRE EXTINGUISHER Hubert Berger Graham, London, and Stanley Francis Warren, Harrow, England Application November 29, 1933, Serial No. 700,296 In Great Britain October 7, 1932 17 Claims.

The present invention relates to fire extinguishers, and more particularly to release mechanism for extinguishers employing a capsule or container of compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide, which ejects the fire extinguishing liquid when the capsule is pierced and the gas released.

In such extinguishers it is preferable to arrange the capsule or the like out of contact with the fire extinguishing liquid, by arranging it outside the container. The container is provided with a seal to prevent loss of liquid. According to the present invention the seal and capsule are perforated by a double ended piercer arranged between them. Preferably the double ended piercer is freely mounted for longitudinal movement so that when the capsule is moved the piercer is compressed between the seal and capsule and adjusts its position longitudinally to pierce both the capsule and the seal. The piercer is preferably provided with a hole or passage from one end to the other to permit the gas to pass freely into the container. The fire extinguishing liquid is thus ejected. The liquid may be forced out through a passage normally closed by a valve or seal which is also opened or perforated when the capsule is pierced.

According to a feature of the invention, a single seal serves the dual purpose of preventing the liquid from percolating around the capsule, and also of normally closing the exit passage for the liquid which leads to the discharge nozzle. The seal is broken when the capsule is pierced, and this is effected by the double ended piercer arranged between the capsule and seal and capable of longitudinal movement, so that when the capsule is moved towards the seal the piercer is compressed therebetween and perforates both members. The piercer preferably has a hole therethrough from one end to the other through which the gas passes into the container, and the end of the piercer which perforates the seal is preferably provided with an enlarged head so that a hole is pierced which is sufliciently large to allow the liquid to pass out around the piercer and to the discharge nozzle.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show various embodiments of the invention and in which Fig. 1 shows in cross section one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows in cross section another form of the invention employing a single seal.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows another modification employing a multiple piercer.

Fig. 5 shows a further modification employing a single seal with a siphon tube.

Fig. 6 shows a construction in which the capsule chamber is positioned inside the extinguisher container.

Referring to Figure 1, the extinguisher comprises a cylindrical container 1 for the extinguishing liquid such as carbon tetrachloride, and is provided at one end with a head '2 screwthreaded into the neck 3 of the container. The head comprises a hollow tubular portion 4 to accommodate a capsule 5 of compressed carbon dioxide, the capsule being arranged with its neck in a passage 6 of smaller diameter, and pointing towards the container. The other end of the tubular portion 4 is closed by a cap 7 screwthreaded thereinto through which a plunger 8 passes and engages with the base of the capsule whereby the capsule may be moved longitudinally.

The end of the small diameter passage 6 remote from the capsule is closed but for a small aperture 9 which connects with the container. This aperture is normally closed by a seal 10 of metal foil shown soldered to a plug 11 screwed into the base of the head 2. In the small diameter passage 6 is arranged a double ended piercer 12 provided with a hole 13 extending from one end to the other. The ends of the piercer are preferably made oblique in order to facilitate piercing the seal and capsule. The end portion of the piercer is sufiiciently small in diameter to pass into the aperture 9 closed by the seal 10, and the central portion of the piercer is approximately equal in diameter to the passage 6 accommodating it, and therefore serves as a guide.

. The spraying nozzle 14 is screwed into the head 2 and is connected with a passage 15 to which is connected a flexible siphon 16, through which the liquid is ejected. The flexible siphon is screwed into the head 2, a metal foil seal being soldered over the screwed end. Arranged in front of this seal 1'7 is another piercer 18, operated from a projection 19 from the plunger 8.

The apparatus operates as follows. When the plunger 8 is struck, the capsule 5 is moved longitudinally and compresses the piercer 12 between itself and the first seal whereby both the capsule and seal are punctured. Simultaneously, the second seal 1'1 is also punctured. The gas thus passes into the container 1 and forces the liquid out past the second seal 1'7 to the nozzle 14.

Leakage of the liquid or gas past the piercer and capsule may be prevented by the end of the central portion of the piercer 12 seating up against the end wall of the small diameter passage 6. If desired, a washer of leather or other flexible material may be arranged between the end of the central portion of the piercer and the end wall of the passage 6 and/or the neck of the capsule,

the washer expanding laterally when the capsule is pierced and engaging with the wall of the small diameter passage. In addition, or alterblown back on the release of the gas.

natively, the plunger 8 can be arranged to slide through a gland 20. The'piercer 18 can slide through a-gland 21. i

Fig. 2 shows a cross section through amodified construction of head in which a single seal serves the dual purpose of preventing-the liquid from normally percolating around the capsule, and also of normally closing the exit passage for the liquid which leads to'the discharge nozzle.

Referring to this figure, the extinguisher comprises the container 1 for the extinguishing fluid into the neck 3 of which is screwed the body portion 22 of the head. Between this body portion and a fiange 23 on the neck is clamped the metal seal 24, a washer 25 being provided if necessary. To the other end of the body portion 22is screwed the tubular portion 26 for accommodating the capsule 27. The end of the tubular portion is closed by a cap 28 which may be screwed or soldered in position and through which passes the operating plunger 29.

In a passage in the body portion .22 slides the double ended piercer 30 arranged between the capsule 2'7 and the seal 24. .The lower end is formed with a small piercer 31 for the capsule and the upper end with a larger piercer 32 for the seal. A passage 33 passes from one end to the other of the piercer to allow the gas from the capsule to pass into the container when both the capsule and seal are perforated. The portion of the piercer just below the longer end 32 is reduced in diameter as shown at 34 so that when the seal 24 is perforated the liquid may pass out of the aperture around the piercer. Leakage of liquid past the piercer is prevented by the gland 35.

The liquid thus passing through the perforation in the seal 24 passes through the passage 36 to the discharge nozzle 37 screwed into the body portion 22. A piece of wire gauze 38 may be soldered to the body portion 22 as shown to serve as a strainer. A retaining member 39 may also be soldered to the body portion as shown when the piercer is in position in order to prevent the piercer from being pulled out when a spent capsule is being pulled off of the lower end 31 of the piercer.,

Between the capsule 27 and'the cap 28 is arranged a spring 40 for holding the capsule in the pierced position and preventingit from beirkilg T e spring is normally compressed but is not of sufficient strengh to cause the seal or the capsule to be pierced. To prevent this accidental piercing the ends of the piercers should not be made too oblique. The head of the piercer engaging with the seal, for example, may be made slightly oblique and countersunk to assist piercing. Care should be taken, of course, to see that the material from which the seal is made is sufiiciently thick to wihtstand the pressure of the spring. At the same time a condition for obtaining best results with all double-endedpiercer constructions should be observed, namely that the sealshould be sufiiciently thin, or the piercer must be so constructed, that the seal will perforate before the capsule is perforated. This condition applies particularly when only a single seal is employed as, otherwise, unless the operating plunger is struck with a smart blow, there may be leakage of gas before the seal is perforated. y

The extinguisher illustrated in Fig. 2 is designed to be used in an inverted position, that is in the positionshown with the capsule and seal at its lower end, thus rendering a siphon tube unnecessary. When the plunger is moved the seal and capsule are pierced, whereupon the gas is blown to the top of the container and forces the liquid out past the piercer and to the discharge nozzle. If desired, the piercer, when forced through the seal, may be arranged to extend into a tube extending upwards to the top of the container as shown in Figure 4. The external diameter of the piercer may be approximately equal to the internal diameter of this tube.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 2. The same parts are indicated in both figures by the same reference numerals. According to this modification, the gland 35 is dispensed with and leakage ofliquid past the piercer 30 is prevented by means of a flexible diaphragm 41 of leather or other suitable material. The diaphragm is secured at its centre between two parts of the piercer 30 which are screwed together, and at its periphery it is clamped by a ring 42 screwed into the body portion 22. The leather diaphragm may be treated with castor oil, glycerine or other preservative.

According to the construction shown in Fig. 4 a multiple double-ended piercer is used, that is a separate cutter perforates the seal to allow the liquid to pass to the discharge nozzle. In this figure, which is a further modification of Figs. 2 and 3 the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same parts. According to this modification the piercer 30 is larger in diameter, leakage past it again being prevented by the leather diaphragm 41 as shown in Fig. 3. The piercer is shaped as shown and is provided with three piercers at its upper end. The central 1 one 43 perforates the seal to allow the gas from the capsule to pass into the container, and the outer piercers 44 punch separate holes in the seal 24 to allow the liquid to pass to the discharge nozzle 37. The outer piercers 44 are made tubular and connect with an annular space formed by reducing the diameter of the central portion of the piercer. The piercer is prevented from falling out by the inner end of the nozzle extending into the space formed by reducing the diameter of the central portion of the piercer as shown.

In this construction a central tube 45 is provided which extends to or near to the top of the container and into which the central piercer 43 projects when the seal is pierced. The lower end of the tube is adjacent the seal and gives support thereto when it is being pierced. On operating the extinguisher the gas from the capsule passes up through the tube 45 to the top of the container and forces the liquid out through the apertures 46 in the ring 4'7 secured in the neck 3 and serving to support the tube 45. The apertures 46 in the ring 47 may be covered by the straining gauze 48.

When the single seal construction is used with a siphon tube through which the liquid passes to the spraying nozzle, it is necessasry to ensure that this is the only way out for the contents of the container and that gas cannot leak away. To this end a chamber may be formed just above the seal to which the siphon leads. the wall of the chamber opposite the piercer being provided with an aperture which is closed by the end of the piercer when the seal is pierced. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 5 in which the end 49 of the piercer 30 is conical or tapered and fits into a hole 50 correspondingly coned or tapered and formed in the ring 53. Thus leakage back through this hole is prevented, the only Way out being through the siphon tube 51 fitted in the 19?. Jan

ring 53 and thus to the chamber 52 and the nozzle 37.

According to another construction shown in Fig. 6, the capsule chamber is accommodated inside the container but so that the capsule is not in contact with the fluid. This construction has the advantage that the extinguisher is more compact than when the capsule chamber projects from the end of th container.

In this figure the capsule 27 is accommodated in the chamber 54 which is screwed into one end of the container 1 and projects thereinto. The inner end of the chamber 54 has screwed thereunto the member 55 in which are arranged the piercer 30 and gland as has been described in connection with Fig. 2. The seal 24 is'secured between the end of the member and the ring 56 screw-threaded thereonto. When the capsule and seal are perforated by striking the plunger 29, the larger end 32 of the piercer 30 extends into the passage 57 in the ring 56 in which it fits closely. The gas from the capsule is thus ad.- mitted to the container and forces the liquid out through the siphon tube 58, which is preferj ably flexible, past the seal 24 to the passage 59 which connects with the tube 60 which conveys the liquid to the discharge nozzle 3'7 screwed into the end of the chamber 54. Again in this figure, as in the case of Figure 2, 38 is the strainer, and 39 the piercer retaining member.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Also, the compressed gas need not be contained in a capsule but could be in a container of any desired shape or form, and it is to be understood that the term capsule in the appended claims means any container for the compressed gas.

We claim:

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a frangible capsule containing gas under pressure, a seal for separating the capsule from the contents of the container, a double-ended piercer arranged between said capsule and seal and constructed and arranged to pierce said capsule and seal, a passageway establishing communication between the capsule and container when the capsule and seal are pierced to allow the gas to pass into the container and an outlet from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be discharged.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a rupturable capsule containing gas under pressure, a seal for separating the capsule from the contents of the container, a double-ended piercer arranged between said capsule and seal constituted and arranged to pierce said seal and capsule, a passage through said piercer to allow the gas to pass freely into the container when the seal and capsule are perforated and an outlet from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be discharged.

3. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a frangible capsule containing gas under pressure, a seal for separating the capsule from the contents of the container, a double-ended piercer arranged between said capsule and seal for piercing said capsule and seal, means for actuating said piercer, a passage through said piercer to allow the gas to pass freely into the container when the seal and capsule are perforated, a passage leading from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be ejected, a closure for said passage and means actuated by said capsule piercing means for automatically opening said passage when said capsule and seal are pierced.

. 4. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing said container, a rupturable capsule of compressed gasarranged adjacent said seal, a doubleended piercer between the seal and the capsule which is arranged so that one end perforates the capsule and the other end the seal, a passage through said piercer through which the gas can enter the container when the capsule and seal are perforated, and means for producing a perforation in said seal through which the fire extinguishing liquid is ejected.

5. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing container, a frangible capsule containing gas under pressure, a longitudinally movable double-ended piercer arranged between said seal and capsule, means for moving the capsule relative to the seal to compress the piercer therebetween to pierce the seal and capsule, means for establishing communication between the capsule and container when the capsule and seal are pierced to allow the gas to pass into the container, and an outlet from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be discharged.

6. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing said container, a rupturable capsule of comressed gas arranged adjacent the seal, a longitudinally movable double-ended piercer arranged between the seal and the capsule one end of which is adapted to pierce the seal and the other end to pierce the capsule, a passage through the piercer through which the gas can enter the container when the capsule and seal are pierced, means for producing a perforation in said seal through which the extinguishing liquid is ejected, a conduit from'said seal to carry the extinguishing liquid from said container, and means for moving the capsule relative tothe seal to compress the piercer therebetween.

7. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing said container, a rupturable capsule containing gas under pressure, a longitudinally movable double-ended piercer arranged between said seal and capsule, means for moving the capsule relative to the seal to compress the piercer therebetween to pierce the seal and capsule, means for establishing communication between the capsule and container when 'the capsule and seal are pierced, means for holding the capsule in the position it assumes after the capsule and seal have been pierced, and a passage leading from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be ejected.

8. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing said container, a rupturable capsule of compressed gas arranged adjacent the seal, a longitudinally movable double-ended piercer arranged between the seal and the capsule one end of which is adapted to pierce the seal and the other end to pierce the capsule, a passage through the piercer through which the gas can enter the container when the capsule and seal are pierced, means for producing a perforation in said seal through which the fire extinguishing liquid is ejected, means for moving the capsule relative to the seal to compress the piercer therebetween, and means for holding the capsule in the position it assumes after the capsule and seal have been pierced.

9. A fire extinguisher comprising a container, a seal for closing said container, a head attached to the container adjacent said seal and provided with a capsule chamber, a rupturable capsule of compressed gas arranged in said capsule chamber, a double-ended piercer longitudinally movable in said head and arranged between said seal and said capsule, means for moving the capsule longitudinally to cause the piercer to perforate the seal and capsule, means for establishing communication between the capsule and container when the capsule and seal are pierced to allow the gas to pass into the container, and an outlet from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be discharged.

10. A fire extinguisher comprising a container, a seal for closing said container, a head attached to the container adjacent said seal and provided with a capsule chamber, a rupturable capsule of compressed gas arranged in said capsule chamber, a double-ended piercer longitudinally movable in said head and arranged between the seal and the capsule, means for moving the capsule longitudinally to cause the piercer to perforate the seal and capsule, means for establishing communication between the capsule and container when the capsule and seal are pierced, a spring arranged to bear on the end of the capsule to hold it in the position it assumes after the capsule and seal have been pierced, and a passage leading from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be ejected.

11. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing said container, a head attached to the container adjacent said seal, a capsule chamber attached to the side of said head opposite to the seal, a

passage in said head connecting the seal with the capsule chamber, a double-ended piercer arranged so as to be longitudinally movable in said passage for piercing the seal and a capsule when placed in the capsule chamber, a passage through said piercer, a passage through which the extinguishing liquid is discharged, and means for preventing the liquid from said container from passing around the outside of the piercer to the capsule chamber.

12. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing said container, a head attached to the container adjacent said seal, a capsule chamber attached to the side of said head opposite to the seal, a passage in said head connecting the seal with the capsule chamber, a double-ended piercer arranged so as to be longitudinally movable in said passage for piercing the seal and a capsule when placed in the capsule chamber, a passage through said piercer, a passage through which the extinguishing liquid is discharged, and a diaphragm of flexible material arranged between the piercer and the head so as to permit longitudinal movement of the piercer but to prevent leakage past the piercer.

13. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing said container, a capsule of compressed gas, a longitudinally movable member arranged between said capsule and seal, a piercer at one end of said member for perforating said capsule, a plurality of piercers at the other end of said member for perforating said seal, and a passage through the member from said capsule piercer to at least one of said seal piercers to allow the gas to pass into the container, said other seal piercers producing further perforations in the seal through which the liquid may be ejected.

14. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a seal for closing said container, a rupturable capsule containing gas under pressure, a longitudinally movable double-ended piercer arranged between said seal and capsule, means for moving the capsule relative to the seal to compress the piercer therebetween to pierce the seal and capsule, means for establishing communication between the capsule and container when the capsule and seal are pierced, a spring arranged to bear on the end of the capsule to hold it in the position it assumes after the seal and capsule have been pierced, and a passage leading from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be ejected.

15. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a chamber adapted to accommodate a capsule of compressed gas, a rupturable capsule in said chamber, a passage between said chamber and the container, a seal normally closing said passage, a double-ended piercer arranged between said capsule and said seal, means for moving the capsule relatively closer to the seal to compress the piercer therebetween to pierce the seal and capsule, means for establishing communication between the capsule and container when the capsule and seal are pierced to allow the gas to pass into the container, and an outlet from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be discharged.

16. A fire extinguisher comprising a container, a seal for closing said container, a chamber adapted to accommodate a capsule of compressed gas located adjacent said seal, a rupturable capsule of compressed gas in said chamber, a passage connecting said chamber with the seal, a double-ended piercer arranged in said passage for piercing said seal and capsule, means for preventing the piercer from being pulled out from said passage, means for establishing communication between the capsule and container when the capsule and seal are pierced to allow the gas to pass into the container, and an outlet from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be discharged.

17. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing liquid, a head attached to the container and provided with a capsule chamber, a seal for separating the capsule chamber fromthe container, a rupturable capsule of compressed gas arranged in said capsule chamber, a double-ended piercer longitudinally movable in said head and arranged between said seal and said capsule, means for moving the capsule to cause the piercer to perforate the seal and capsule, means for establishing communication between the capsule and container when the capsule and seal are pierced to allow the gas to pass into the container, and an outlet from said container through which the extinguishing liquid may be discharged.

HUBERT BERGER GRAHAM. STANLEY F. WARREN. 

